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Cancer

Any one of a group of diseases that occur when
cells in the body become abnormal and have
the potential to spread and establish growth in nearby
tissues and other parts of the body
(malignancy).
(Source: GreenFacts )

A substance, factor or situation that causes or induces cancer.
(Source: GreenFacts )

Cell

The basic subunit of any living organism; the simplest unit that can exist as
an independent living system. There are many different types of cells in complex
organisms such as humans, each with specific characteristics.
(Source: GreenFacts)

The system that contains the heart and the blood vessels and moves blood
throughout the body. This system helps
tissues get enough oxygen and nutrients, and
it helps them get rid of waste products. The lymph system, which connects with
the blood system, is often considered part of the circulatory system.
(Source:
NCIDictionary of cancer
terms
)

A type of epidemiological study which observes a large number of individuals in a population over a period of time.

It compares individuals who are exposed for instance to a certain chemical to others without the exposure or with a different level of exposure. These two groups are called cohorts and are followed over time to determine the differences in the health outcomes between the exposure subjects.
(Source: GreenFacts)

Confounding factor

A confounding factor in a study is a variable which is related to one or more
of the variables defined in a study. A confounding factor may mask an actual
association or falsely demonstrate an apparent association between the study
variables where no real association between them exists. If confounding factors
are not measured and considered, bias may result in the conclusion of the study.
(Source: GreenFacts)

DG Health and Consumers

"The Health and Consumers DG (formally known as Health and Consumer Protection
DG) is one of 36 Directorates-General (DGs) and specialised services which make
up the European Commission."

The mission statement of the Health and Consumers DG is: "to promote a better
quality of life by ensuring a high level of protection of consumers' health,
safety and economic interests as well as of public health"

A biological endpoint is a direct marker of disease progression - e.g. disease
symptoms or death - used to describe a health effect (or a probability of that
health effect) resulting from exposure to a chemical.
(Source: GreenFacts)

"The European Commission (EC) embodies and upholds the general interest of the
[European] Union and is the driving force in the Union's institutional system.
Its four main roles are to propose legislation to Parliament and the Council, to
administer and implement Community policies, to enforce Community law (jointly
with the Court of Justice) and to negotiate international agreements, mainly
those relating to trade and cooperation."

The Commission's staff is organised into 36 Directorates-General (DGs) and
specialised services, such as the Environment DG and the Research DG.
(Source:
EC website
)

Leukaemia is a cancer that starts in
blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow, which makes blood cells (red blood
cells that carry oxygen around the body, white blood cells that fight disease
and infection, platelets that help to stop bleeding when it starts).

In people with leukaemia, the bone marrow produces large numbers of abnormal
white blood cells and not enough normal red blood cells.

Leukaemia cases represent less than 4% of all cancer cases in adults but are
the most common form of cancer in children.

Cancer that begins in cells of the immune system (the lymphatic system).

The most common type of lymphoma is called Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease.

All other lymphomas are grouped together under the term non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
(Source: GreenFacts)

Meta-analysis

A statistical method of combining the results of a number of different studies
in order to provide a larger sample size for evaluation and to produce a
stronger conclusion than can be provided by any single study.
(Source: GreenFacts)

Energy moving in the form of particles or waves. Familiar radiations are heat,
light, radio waves, and microwaves. Ionizing radiation is a
very high-energy form of electromagnetic radiation.
(Source:
US Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Glossary of Radiological Terms
)

A radioactive gas that is released by the breakdown of uranium, a substance
found in some soils and rocks. It can get inside buildings by diffusing through
the soil and can also be released from concrete.

Breathing in too much radon can damage lung cells and lead to lung cancer.
(Source: GreenFacts )

Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks

The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks
(SCENIHR) was set up in 2004 by the European Commission to provide the
Commission with unambiguous scientific advice on the safety of a series of
issues requiring a comprehensive assessment of the risks, such as new
technologies, medical devices, etc.

The SCENIHR advice is intended to enable risk managers to take the adequate
and required actions in order to guarantee consumer safety or public health.

The SCENIHR addresses questions concerning emerging or newly-identified risks
and on broad, complex or multi-disciplinary issues requiring a comprehensive
assessment of risks to consumer safety or public health and related issues not
covered by other Community risk- assessment bodies.

The Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks is
composed of a maximum of 13 members, but for any specific question may enlist
the support of up to six associated members selected on the basis of their
expertise. There is also a reserve list made up of candidates found suitable for
a position in a Scientific Committee but not appointed. The members of the
SCENIHR are appointed on the basis of their skills and experience in the fields
in question, and consistent with this a geographical distribution that reflects
the diversity of scientific problems and approaches in the European Union (EU).
The experts' term of office is three years and is renewable for a maximum of
three consecutive times. In agreement with the Commission, the Scientific
Committees may turn to specialised external experts.

The SCENIHR complies with the principles of independence, transparency and
confidentiality. The members therefore make a declaration of commitment to act
in the public interest and a declaration of interests; requests for opinions,
agendas, minutes and opinions are published; work and publications are done with
regard to the need for commercial confidentiality.
(Source:
SCENIHR
pages
)

Soft tissue

Refers to all tissues in the body that are not bone. It includes muscle, fat,
fibrous tissue, blood vessels, or any other supporting tissue of the body.
(Source: GreenFacts)

Solid cancer

Solid cancers are defined as abnormal cellular growths in "solid" organs such
as the breast or prostate, as opposed to leukemia, a cancer affecting the blood,
which is liquid.
(Source: GreenFacts)

Susceptibility

The likelihood of producing a significantly larger-than-average response to a
specified exposure to a substance.